Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-06-18
THE GRAND JURY,s REPORT.

OnDA1, JUNE 10, l.
THE GRAND JURY,S REPORT.
Important Recommendation Submit-
ted to Judge Montgomery To-day.
LAWS NEEDED 10 PROTECT YOUTH FROM EVIL M
FLUENcEs-PUBLIc BUILDINGS IN AN UNsANITARY
CONDITION - PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE AT THE
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE AND THE THEATERs.
When the grand jury came into the Criminal
Court about noon to-day, after presenting indtct-
ments they presented the following report, signed
by all the members, which was read by the fore
man, Mr.. E. G. Davis:
The grand jury have Investigated the sew.
eral matters referred to them by his honor, the
Judge OF the Criminal Court, and beg to report:
First IN reference to drinking Saloons pool-rooms
&c. On these subjects we have examined number
OF witnesses, among them the major and superin-
tendent, captain, and all the leutenants OF police
We found all the witnesses gentlemanly and will
Ing 10 1m1 ,t all the Information asked for or In
their power to give. We hnd there are in the Dis
are sold by the nF a ~ s,ch nave somned
with the law in obtaining their licenses.
In addition TO these there are about 362 places
pint, called wholesale liquor dealers We also find
that IN rev isolated cases liquors are being sold
IN violation OF law but all such cases are prose
There are in the District about seventy licensed
We We ind are patronized y boys and young men:
saloons, nor can we ind that pool playing by boys
from ten to twenty years old ia violation OF any
existing law; but we have no hesitation IN decar-
Ing as our unanimous judgment that the tendency
OF such state OF affairs, and the fact that the ex
1stence OF such places where 1t Is possible for large
gaming, drinking, and 'i SMOKING, and % where they W
are likely TO be thrown In contact with all kinds
or desperate characters is demOralzing In the ex-
allowed to exist. And we beg to call the atten-
t1on OF the authorities as well as our lawmakers,
to the same. aid to earnestly request the District
OF such stringent laws as will surely arrest and
suppress this great and growing evil
THE JAMES CREEK CANAL.
We beg also to call attention to the condition OF
the James Creek canal, which is open from g
street southwest to the river From evidence before
trap, cess-pOol emitting foul OdOrs, q fruitful
source OF disease and dangerous to life and limb;
are very liable to occur: In fact, the record will
show that many lives have been lost there in the
past few years We believe this canal in its present
condition to be nuisance, and recommend that
the same be abated at once, either by being en-
closed by strong and substantial fence and regu.
larly dredged, or by being arched; the latter, we
DeneVe, would be more beneficial TO health.
THE POLICE FORCE
very efficient and watchful, and for order and
good government our city will compare favorably
with any In the country. When we reflect that
our entire police force, whose duty it is to guard
population Of over Zoo. 600 people, only numbers
277 officers included, we see at once how totally
inadequate such a force is to furnish proper pro.
we really wonder how they manage to do so well
and preserve such good order In addition to Their
regular patrol DUTIES we lind that large number
yfxyf1
force have to attend the Police Court every day as
witnesses, where they are detained from three to
SIX hours, and thus officers are In many cases de-
prved OF the rest they need to render them capable
OF properly dtScharging their duties 1t also, we
think. tends to discourage arrests. This, while 1t
1s necessary under our present system tends to de-
nishes additional reason for an increase OF the
same. And we recommend and respectfully ask
that the police force OF this District be Increased
1t least 100 men.
IN FAvOR OF MAGISTRATE SYSTEM.
The present system Of trial or hearing causes in
Police court in addition to consuming the time OF
officers, we find, does great injustice to persons
arrested. It 0ftun happens that innocent parties
are arrested, ana II such arrest occurs on SaJur-
day an innocent persOn is locked up and held at
considerable expense until Monday morning, when,
II there was provision for an immediate hearing,
the case could De settled at once without expense
to the Government and with less injustice to the
accused.
We recommend such legislation by Congress as
will provide for the appointment OF a sufficient
number OF police magistrates, stationed at cOnve-
nient points, with authority to hear and determine
petty cases, as will enable all persons arrested for
minor o1enses to have an early hearing, and thus
relieve the Police Court and allow more time for
deliberation in important cases.
THE MUNICIPAL LAWS.
We find that great and unnecessary 1nconven-
fence in the administration Of justice in this Dis
trtct arises from the fact that as to municipal
affairs there are three sets Of laws in this turis
Washington, and one for the county proper. This,
we think, could be easily remedied by an act OF
Congress repeating the ordinances of the council
OF Georgetown and OF the Levy Court. and ex-
tending to Georgetown and throughout the county
all the municipal laws in force in Washington
City not locally inapplicable in the county. And
we recommend that Congress be asked TO take such
action.
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ASSISTANTS.
We recommend that section 9O7 OF the Revised
Statutes OF the District OF Columbia be amended
as to increase the amount which the attorney OF
the United States for this District is permitted to
pay to his deputies or assistants. By that section
this amount is limited to four thousand g. OOO)
dollars per annum. This gives but meagre COM
q matter within our personal observation that the
force OF the district attorneys Ofice is not large
enough to meet the demands now made upon It.
1t frequently occurs that the grand Jury has to
proceed without legal advice, because the
district attorney and all his assistants are en-
gagged IN court @ and nd the examination OF witnesses
alone. The district attorney should have one as
sistant for grand jury work especially, since that
body Is In almost continuous session In this Dis
trict, but at present that Is manfeSJy impossible
INsAN1TARY CONDITION OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
We have taken testimony as to the condition OF
the different government buildings in this city,
and md that the Treasury Department, Interior
Department., and Post ONCE Department build
tngs, are in a very bad sanitary condition, owing
principally to the defective manner in which the
sewers and sewer connections in them are con-
structed From this cause the health and the lives
OF those VIII occupy these buildings are endan-
gered. II such buildings were kept in such q con.
ditiOn by private individual he would be liable
to Indictment for maintaining nuisance. We
recommend that Congress be requested to provide
remedy for this great evil.
THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
We have made an examination OF the Govern
ment Printing once on northeast corner OF square
624, North Capitol street and northwest, and
md the buildings fronting three hundred C3OO)
feet on street, and one hundred and seventy
nve 175) feet on North Capitol street, by width
OF sixty 6O) feet and four stories in height;
s.ructed, except the outer walls, of combustible
materials, 1oors and ceilings being OF wood, and
each n0Or Is also fully stored with combusttble
Materials. In this portion are employed on an
average about fifteen &, 5O0) hundred persons,
those ON the Two upper floors being principally fe-
males.
The exits for escape In case OF fire or panic
are, In our Judgment. totally inadequate. There
are two sta1fW0Sb constructed OF wood on the
three hundred 100e section. and only One of those